Chapter 174

The Longest Week

Lisa had never been the type to stay angry for long.

Annoyed? Yes.

Dramatic? Absolutely.

Capable of holding a grudge against a broken coffee machine for three days? Also yes.

But against Jennie?

Never.

At least, that was what everyone thought.

Including Jennie.

Which was exactly why she knew she had messed up badly.

Because for the first time in years, Lisa had been sulking for an entire week.

A whole week.

Seven days.

One hundred and sixty-eight hours.

Not that Jennie was counting.

Okay, she was counting.

The disaster started with a date.

A very important date.

One Lisa had planned for nearly a month.

She had reserved a private table at their favorite restaurant.

Bought flowers.

Picked matching outfits.

Even arranged her schedule so she could spend the entire evening with her wife.

And then…

Jennie forgot.

Not intentionally.

Not because she didn’t care.

A last-minute emergency meeting had appeared out of nowhere.

One meeting became two.

Two became four.

And before Jennie realized it, it was nearly midnight.

Her phone had over twenty missed calls.

Fifty messages.

And one final text.

“It’s okay. I understand.”

That text somehow hurt more than if Lisa had screamed.

Because Lisa only used that sentence when she was truly hurt.

The moment Jennie got home that night, she knew she was doomed.

Lisa wasn’t waiting on the couch.

She wasn’t asleep.

She wasn’t crying.

No.

She was sitting in bed hugging her giant dumpling plushie.

The emergency dumpling.

The emotional support dumpling.

The dumpling that only appeared during serious emotional crises.

Jennie immediately knew she was in trouble.

“Baby-“

“Hi.”

The smile Lisa gave her was terrifyingly polite.

Jennie nearly cried.

That was seven days ago.

And now?

The damage remained.

Lisa wasn’t yelling.

Wasn’t arguing.

Wasn’t being mean.

She was simply…

Sulking.

The most devastating form of Lisa sadness.

Every morning Jennie tried to hug her.

Lisa accepted the hug.

But only for three seconds.

Exactly three.

Then she’d walk away.

At night Jennie would try cuddling.

Lisa would allow it.

Then she’d turn around and face the wall.

Every single time.

The worst part?

Lisa still took care of her.

Still cooked.

Still reminded her to drink water.

Still kissed her cheek before work.

But those kisses felt different.

Like they were given out of habit.

Not because Lisa wanted to.

Jennie hated it.

Absolutely hated it.

By day five she was practically losing her mind.

“She still loves me,” Jennie complained dramatically.

“Obviously.”

“But she won’t cuddle me.”

Their friend rolled her eyes.

“You forgot your anniversary date.”

“It wasn’t our anniversary.”

“It was the anniversary of your first date.”

Jennie froze.

“…Oh.”

“Exactly.”

Jennie looked ready to throw herself into traffic.

By day seven she finally decided enough was enough.

She was fixing this.

Today.

No matter what.

Lisa arrived home after work expecting a normal evening.

Instead she opened the front door and froze.

The entire living room was covered in fairy lights.

Flowers.

Candles.

Photos.

Every picture from their relationship.

From their first awkward selfie.

To their wedding.

To countless random moments.

A giant banner hung across the room.

I’M AN IDIOT AND I’M SORRY.

Lisa stared.

Then laughed despite herself.

“Seriously?”

A familiar voice appeared behind her.

“I wanted to write something romantic.”

Lisa turned.

Jennie stood there holding a bouquet almost as big as herself.

Looking nervous.

Very nervous.

The kind of nervous that only appeared when she genuinely feared Lisa’s reaction.

The sight alone made Lisa’s heart soften.

A little.

Only a little.

“…Hi.”

Jennie walked closer.

Slowly.

Like approaching a wounded animal.

“Hi.”

Silence.

Then Jennie took her hand.

“I messed up.”

Lisa looked away.

Jennie squeezed her fingers.

“I know I did.”

Still no response.

“I know I hurt you.”

That finally made Lisa’s eyes lift.

Because Jennie’s voice sounded genuinely miserable.

“I never wanted to hurt you, Lili.”

The nickname nearly broke her.

Almost.

Jennie stepped even closer.

“I’m sorry.”

Lisa swallowed.

“I know.”

“No. I mean really sorry.”

Jennie’s eyes were shiny.

“I forgot something important because I got caught up in work.”

Her voice cracked.

“And that’s not fair to you.”

Lisa felt her chest ache.

Because she knew Jennie wasn’t making excuses.

She was taking responsibility.

“I spent all month planning that date.”

Jennie’s face immediately fell.

“I know.”

“I was excited.”

“I know.”

“I bought matching outfits.”

Jennie looked devastated.

“I know.”

Lisa pouted.

The giant legendary pout.

The one Jennie had never successfully resisted.

And tonight was no exception.

Jennie immediately wrapped both arms around her.

Pulling her close.

“I know, baby.”

Lisa tried maintaining her sulk.

Failed spectacularly.

Especially when Jennie started kissing her forehead.

One kiss.

Then another.

Then another.

And another.

And another.

“Jennie.”

Another kiss.

“Jennie.”

Another kiss.

“Kim Jennie.”

Another kiss.

Lisa finally started laughing.

Jennie looked relieved.

Like she’d just been informed the world wasn’t ending.

“There she is.”

Lisa rolled her eyes.

“You’re shameless.”

“I’ve been suffering for a week.”

“As you should.”

“I deserve that.”

“You do.”

“I deserve worse.”

“You do.”

Jennie nodded seriously.

Then suddenly grabbed Lisa’s face.

And kissed her.

Softly.

Tenderly.

Like she was handling something precious.

Lisa melted immediately.

Because she was weak.

Hopelessly weak.

Especially for Jennie.

The kiss lasted only a moment.

Then Jennie kissed her again.

And again.

And again.

Tiny little kisses scattered everywhere.

Forehead.

Cheeks.

Nose.

Jaw.

Temples.

Every place Jennie could reach.

“Jennie!”

“No.”

Another kiss.

“You suffered enough.”

Another kiss.

“I’m pampering my wife.”

Another kiss.

“My beautiful wife.”

Another kiss.

“My adorable wife.”

Another kiss.

“My favorite person.”

Lisa was giggling helplessly now.

The sulking fortress she’d spent seven days building was collapsing rapidly.

Jennie noticed.

And took advantage immediately.

She wrapped Lisa in a blanket.

Sat her on the couch.

Placed snacks in her lap.

Turned on her favorite movie.

Then returned with hot chocolate.

Lisa blinked.

“…What are you doing?”

“Pampering you.”

Jennie sat beside her.

Then gently pulled Lisa into her lap.

Like she belonged there.

Which she absolutely did.

For the next two hours Jennie did not let her move.

Every few minutes she’d kiss her forehead.

Play with her hair.

Massage her shoulders.

Tell her she was beautiful.

Tell her she was loved.

Tell her she was sorry.

Until eventually Lisa couldn’t take it anymore.

“Okay.”

Jennie blinked.

“Okay what?”

“I forgive you.”

The relief on Jennie’s face was immediate.

Visible.

Massive.

She practically collapsed against Lisa.

“Oh thank God.”

Lisa laughed.

“You were really suffering.”

“A whole week.”

Jennie buried her face into Lisa’s shoulder.

“I almost died.”

“Dramatic.”

“I cried twice.”

“Pathetic.”

“Three times.”

Lisa burst out laughing.

Jennie smiled.

Because there it was.

The sound she’d missed all week.

The sound that made every room feel brighter.

She lifted her head.

Looked at Lisa.

Then kissed her softly.

“I love you.”

Lisa smiled.

The genuine one.

The one Jennie had been desperately waiting to see.

“I love you too.”

And for the first time in seven very long days, Lisa finally cuddled into Jennie’s arms without turning away.

Jennie held her tightly.

Determined not to let go.

Especially not on date nights.

Ever again.